diff --git a/src/blockchain_db/blockchain_db.cpp b/src/blockchain_db/blockchain_db.cpp
index a6774a25c..01a59e079 100644
--- a/src/blockchain_db/blockchain_db.cpp
+++ b/src/blockchain_db/blockchain_db.cpp
@@ -33,6 +33,19 @@
 #include "profile_tools.h"
 #include "ringct/rctOps.h"
 
+#include "lmdb/db_lmdb.h"
+#ifdef BERKELEY_DB
+#include "berkeleydb/db_bdb.h"
+#endif
+
+static const char *db_types[] = {
+  "lmdb",
+#ifdef BERKELEY_DB
+  "berkeley",
+#endif
+  NULL
+};
+
 #undef MONERO_DEFAULT_LOG_CATEGORY
 #define MONERO_DEFAULT_LOG_CATEGORY "blockchain.db"
 
@@ -41,6 +54,41 @@ using epee::string_tools::pod_to_hex;
 namespace cryptonote
 {
 
+bool blockchain_valid_db_type(const std::string& db_type)
+{
+  int i;
+  for (i=0; db_types[i]; i++)
+  {
+    if (db_types[i] == db_type)
+      return true;
+  }
+  return false;
+}
+
+std::string blockchain_db_types(const std::string& sep)
+{
+  int i;
+  std::string ret = "";
+  for (i=0; db_types[i]; i++)
+  {
+    if (i)
+      ret += sep;
+    ret += db_types[i];
+  }
+  return ret;
+}
+
+BlockchainDB *new_db(const std::string& db_type)
+{
+  if (db_type == "lmdb")
+    return new BlockchainLMDB();
+#if defined(BERKELEY_DB)
+  if (db_type == "berkeley")
+    return new BlockchainBDB();
+#endif
+  return NULL;
+}
+
 void BlockchainDB::pop_block()
 {
   block blk;
diff --git a/src/blockchain_db/blockchain_db.h b/src/blockchain_db/blockchain_db.h
index 27e63801d..3efb8c3c3 100644
--- a/src/blockchain_db/blockchain_db.h
+++ b/src/blockchain_db/blockchain_db.h
@@ -145,6 +145,12 @@ struct txpool_tx_meta_t
   uint8_t padding[77]; // till 192 bytes
 };
 
+#define DBF_SAFE       1
+#define DBF_FAST       2
+#define DBF_FASTEST    4
+#define DBF_RDONLY     8
+#define DBF_SALVAGE 0x10
+
 /***********************************
  * Exception Definitions
  ***********************************/
@@ -1491,6 +1497,7 @@ public:
 
 };  // class BlockchainDB
 
+BlockchainDB *new_db(const std::string& db_type);
 
 }  // namespace cryptonote
 
diff --git a/src/blockchain_db/db_types.h b/src/blockchain_db/db_types.h
index 6c21b029e..8e2f58a61 100644
--- a/src/blockchain_db/db_types.h
+++ b/src/blockchain_db/db_types.h
@@ -31,9 +31,6 @@
 
 namespace cryptonote
 {
-
-  const std::unordered_set<std::string> blockchain_db_types = 
-  { "lmdb"
-  };
-
+  bool blockchain_valid_db_type(const std::string& db_type);
+  std::string blockchain_db_types(const std::string& sep);
 } // namespace cryptonote
diff --git a/src/blockchain_db/lmdb/db_lmdb.cpp b/src/blockchain_db/lmdb/db_lmdb.cpp
index 4441c7578..a756c04c6 100644
--- a/src/blockchain_db/lmdb/db_lmdb.cpp
+++ b/src/blockchain_db/lmdb/db_lmdb.cpp
@@ -1083,9 +1083,10 @@ BlockchainLMDB::BlockchainLMDB(bool batch_transactions)
   m_hardfork = nullptr;
 }
 
-void BlockchainLMDB::open(const std::string& filename, const int mdb_flags)
+void BlockchainLMDB::open(const std::string& filename, const int db_flags)
 {
   int result;
+  int mdb_flags = MDB_NORDAHEAD;
 
   LOG_PRINT_L3("BlockchainLMDB::" << __func__);
 
@@ -1124,6 +1125,15 @@ void BlockchainLMDB::open(const std::string& filename, const int mdb_flags)
 
   size_t mapsize = DEFAULT_MAPSIZE;
 
+  if (db_flags & DBF_FAST)
+    mdb_flags |= MDB_NOSYNC;
+  if (db_flags & DBF_FASTEST)
+    mdb_flags |= MDB_NOSYNC | MDB_WRITEMAP | MDB_MAPASYNC;
+  if (db_flags & DBF_RDONLY)
+    mdb_flags = MDB_RDONLY;
+  if (db_flags & DBF_SALVAGE)
+    mdb_flags |= MDB_PREVSNAPSHOT;
+
   if (auto result = mdb_env_open(m_env, filename.c_str(), mdb_flags, 0644))
     throw0(DB_ERROR(lmdb_error("Failed to open lmdb environment: ", result).c_str()));
 
diff --git a/src/blockchain_utilities/blockchain_export.cpp b/src/blockchain_utilities/blockchain_export.cpp
index f145bc107..20eca09f2 100644
--- a/src/blockchain_utilities/blockchain_export.cpp
+++ b/src/blockchain_utilities/blockchain_export.cpp
@@ -31,10 +31,6 @@
 #include "common/command_line.h"
 #include "cryptonote_core/tx_pool.h"
 #include "blockchain_db/blockchain_db.h"
-#include "blockchain_db/lmdb/db_lmdb.h"
-#if defined(BERKELEY_DB)
-#include "blockchain_db/berkeleydb/db_bdb.h"
-#endif
 #include "blockchain_db/db_types.h"
 #include "version.h"
 
@@ -44,17 +40,6 @@
 namespace po = boost::program_options;
 using namespace epee;
 
-std::string join_set_strings(const std::unordered_set<std::string>& db_types_all, const char* delim)
-{
-  std::string result;
-  std::ostringstream s;
-  std::copy(db_types_all.begin(), db_types_all.end(), std::ostream_iterator<std::string>(s, delim));
-  result = s.str();
-  if (result.length() > 0)
-    result.erase(result.end()-strlen(delim), result.end());
-  return result;
-}
-
 int main(int argc, char* argv[])
 {
   TRY_ENTRY();
@@ -63,10 +48,7 @@ int main(int argc, char* argv[])
 
   std::string default_db_type = "lmdb";
 
-  std::unordered_set<std::string> db_types_all = cryptonote::blockchain_db_types;
-  db_types_all.insert("memory");
-
-  std::string available_dbs = join_set_strings(db_types_all, ", ");
+  std::string available_dbs = cryptonote::blockchain_db_types(", ");
   available_dbs = "available: " + available_dbs;
 
   uint32_t log_level = 0;
@@ -144,18 +126,11 @@ int main(int argc, char* argv[])
   m_config_folder = command_line::get_arg(vm, data_dir_arg);
 
   std::string db_type = command_line::get_arg(vm, arg_database);
-  if (db_types_all.count(db_type) == 0)
+  if (!cryptonote::blockchain_valid_db_type(db_type))
   {
     std::cerr << "Invalid database type: " << db_type << std::endl;
     return 1;
   }
-#if !defined(BERKELEY_DB)
-  if (db_type == "berkeley")
-  {
-    LOG_ERROR("BerkeleyDB support disabled.");
-    return false;
-  }
-#endif
 
   if (command_line::has_arg(vm, arg_output_file))
     output_file_path = boost::filesystem::path(command_line::get_arg(vm, arg_output_file));
@@ -179,19 +154,8 @@ int main(int argc, char* argv[])
   tx_memory_pool m_mempool(*core_storage);
   core_storage = new Blockchain(m_mempool);
 
-  int db_flags = 0;
-
-  BlockchainDB* db = nullptr;
-  if (db_type == "lmdb")
-  {
-    db_flags |= MDB_RDONLY;
-    db = new BlockchainLMDB();
-  }
-#if defined(BERKELEY_DB)
-  else if (db_type == "berkeley")
-    db = new BlockchainBDB();
-#endif
-  else
+  BlockchainDB* db = new_db(db_type);
+  if (db == NULL)
   {
     LOG_ERROR("Attempted to use non-existent database type: " << db_type);
     throw std::runtime_error("Attempting to use non-existent database type");
@@ -205,7 +169,7 @@ int main(int argc, char* argv[])
   LOG_PRINT_L0("Loading blockchain from folder " << filename << " ...");
   try
   {
-    db->open(filename, db_flags);
+    db->open(filename, DBF_RDONLY);
   }
   catch (const std::exception& e)
   {
diff --git a/src/blockchain_utilities/blockchain_import.cpp b/src/blockchain_utilities/blockchain_import.cpp
index 6f908c799..ded854ca4 100644
--- a/src/blockchain_utilities/blockchain_import.cpp
+++ b/src/blockchain_utilities/blockchain_import.cpp
@@ -42,8 +42,6 @@
 #include "blockchain_db/db_types.h"
 #include "cryptonote_core/cryptonote_core.h"
 
-#include <lmdb.h> // for db flag arguments
-
 #undef MONERO_DEFAULT_LOG_CATEGORY
 #define MONERO_DEFAULT_LOG_CATEGORY "bcutil"
 
@@ -78,40 +76,16 @@ namespace po = boost::program_options;
 using namespace cryptonote;
 using namespace epee;
 
-
-std::string join_set_strings(const std::unordered_set<std::string>& db_types_all, const char* delim)
-{
-  std::string result;
-  std::ostringstream s;
-  std::copy(db_types_all.begin(), db_types_all.end(), std::ostream_iterator<std::string>(s, delim));
-  result = s.str();
-  if (result.length() > 0)
-    result.erase(result.end()-strlen(delim), result.end());
-  return result;
-}
-
-// db_type: lmdb, berkeley
 // db_mode: safe, fast, fastest
-int get_db_flags_from_mode(const std::string& db_type, const std::string& db_mode)
+int get_db_flags_from_mode(const std::string& db_mode)
 {
-  uint64_t BDB_FAST_MODE = 0;
-  uint64_t BDB_FASTEST_MODE = 0;
-  uint64_t BDB_SAFE_MODE = 0;
-
-#if defined(BERKELEY_DB)
-  BDB_FAST_MODE = DB_TXN_WRITE_NOSYNC;
-  BDB_FASTEST_MODE = DB_TXN_NOSYNC;
-  BDB_SAFE_MODE = DB_TXN_SYNC;
-#endif
-
   int db_flags = 0;
-  bool islmdb = db_type == "lmdb";
   if (db_mode == "safe")
-    db_flags = islmdb ? MDB_NORDAHEAD : BDB_SAFE_MODE;
+    db_flags = DBF_SAFE;
   else if (db_mode == "fast")
-    db_flags = islmdb ? MDB_NOMETASYNC | MDB_NOSYNC | MDB_NORDAHEAD : BDB_FAST_MODE;
+    db_flags = DBF_FAST;
   else if (db_mode == "fastest")
-    db_flags = islmdb ? MDB_WRITEMAP | MDB_MAPASYNC | MDB_NORDAHEAD | MDB_NOMETASYNC | MDB_NOSYNC : BDB_FASTEST_MODE;
+    db_flags = DBF_FASTEST;
   return db_flags;
 }
 
@@ -132,14 +106,6 @@ int parse_db_arguments(const std::string& db_arg_str, std::string& db_type, int&
     return 1;
   }
 
-#if !defined(BERKELEY_DB)
-  if (db_type == "berkeley")
-  {
-    MFATAL("BerkeleyDB support disabled.");
-    return false;
-  }
-#endif
-
   std::string db_arg_str2 = db_args[1];
   boost::split(db_args, db_arg_str2, boost::is_any_of(","));
 
@@ -155,51 +121,7 @@ int parse_db_arguments(const std::string& db_arg_str, std::string& db_type, int&
   }
   if (! db_mode.empty())
   {
-    db_flags = get_db_flags_from_mode(db_type, db_mode);
-  }
-  else
-  {
-    for (auto& it : db_args)
-    {
-      boost::algorithm::trim(it);
-      if (it.empty())
-	continue;
-      if (db_type == "lmdb")
-      {
-	MINFO("LMDB flag: " << it);
-	if (it == "nosync")
-	  db_flags |= MDB_NOSYNC;
-	else if (it == "nometasync")
-	  db_flags |= MDB_NOMETASYNC;
-	else if (it == "writemap")
-	  db_flags |= MDB_WRITEMAP;
-	else if (it == "mapasync")
-	  db_flags |= MDB_MAPASYNC;
-	else if (it == "nordahead")
-	  db_flags |= MDB_NORDAHEAD;
-	else
-	{
-	  std::cerr << "unrecognized database flag: " << it << ENDL;
-	  return 1;
-	}
-      }
-#if defined(BERKELEY_DB)
-      else if (db_type == "berkeley")
-      {
-	if (it == "txn_write_nosync")
-	  db_flags = DB_TXN_WRITE_NOSYNC;
-	else if (it == "txn_nosync")
-	  db_flags = DB_TXN_NOSYNC;
-	else if (it == "txn_sync")
-	  db_flags = DB_TXN_SYNC;
-	else
-	{
-	  std::cerr << "unrecognized database flag: " << it << ENDL;
-	  return 1;
-	}
-      }
-#endif
-    }
+    db_flags = get_db_flags_from_mode(db_mode);
   }
   return 0;
 }
@@ -580,12 +502,8 @@ int main(int argc, char* argv[])
   epee::string_tools::set_module_name_and_folder(argv[0]);
 
   std::string default_db_type = "lmdb";
-  std::string default_db_engine_compiled = "blockchain_db";
 
-  std::unordered_set<std::string> db_types_all = cryptonote::blockchain_db_types;
-  db_types_all.insert("memory");
-
-  std::string available_dbs = join_set_strings(db_types_all, ", ");
+  std::string available_dbs = cryptonote::blockchain_db_types(", ");
   available_dbs = "available: " + available_dbs;
 
   uint32_t log_level = 0;
@@ -731,7 +649,6 @@ int main(int argc, char* argv[])
 
 
   std::string db_type;
-  std::string db_engine_compiled;
   int db_flags = 0;
   int res = 0;
   res = parse_db_arguments(db_arg_str, db_type, db_flags);
@@ -741,25 +658,12 @@ int main(int argc, char* argv[])
     return 1;
   }
 
-  if (db_types_all.count(db_type) == 0)
+  if (!cryptonote::blockchain_valid_db_type(db_type))
   {
     std::cerr << "Invalid database type: " << db_type << std::endl;
     return 1;
   }
 
-  if ((db_type == "lmdb")
-#if defined(BERKELEY_DB)
-   || (db_type == "berkeley")
-#endif
-  )
-  {
-    db_engine_compiled = "blockchain_db";
-  }
-  else
-  {
-    db_engine_compiled = "memory";
-  }
-
   MINFO("database: " << db_type);
   MINFO("database flags: " << db_flags);
   MINFO("verify:  " << std::boolalpha << opt_verify << std::noboolalpha);
@@ -788,16 +692,6 @@ int main(int argc, char* argv[])
   // properties to do so. Both ways work, but fake core isn't necessary in that
   // circumstance.
 
-  if (db_type != "lmdb"
-#if defined(BERKELEY_DB)
-  && db_type != "berkeley"
-#endif
-  )
-  {
-    std::cerr << "database type unrecognized" << ENDL;
-    return 1;
-  }
-
   cryptonote::cryptonote_protocol_stub pr; //TODO: stub only for this kind of test, make real validation of relayed objects
   cryptonote::core core(&pr);
   core.disable_dns_checkpoints(true);
diff --git a/src/blockchain_utilities/blocksdat_file.h b/src/blockchain_utilities/blocksdat_file.h
index 4e9d8173b..0a5913058 100644
--- a/src/blockchain_utilities/blocksdat_file.h
+++ b/src/blockchain_utilities/blocksdat_file.h
@@ -38,7 +38,6 @@
 #include "cryptonote_basic/cryptonote_boost_serialization.h"
 #include "cryptonote_core/blockchain.h"
 #include "blockchain_db/blockchain_db.h"
-#include "blockchain_db/lmdb/db_lmdb.h"
 
 #include <algorithm>
 #include <cstdio>
diff --git a/src/common/command_line.cpp b/src/common/command_line.cpp
index 925d8ff3b..ad66b2009 100644
--- a/src/common/command_line.cpp
+++ b/src/common/command_line.cpp
@@ -96,7 +96,7 @@ namespace command_line
   , "checkpoints from DNS server will be enforced"
   , false
   };
-  std::string arg_db_type_description = "Specify database type, available: " + boost::algorithm::join(cryptonote::blockchain_db_types, ", ");
+  std::string arg_db_type_description = "Specify database type, available: " + cryptonote::blockchain_db_types(", ");
   const command_line::arg_descriptor<std::string> arg_db_type = {
     "db-type"
   , arg_db_type_description.c_str()
diff --git a/src/cryptonote_core/cryptonote_core.cpp b/src/cryptonote_core/cryptonote_core.cpp
index 98569b46b..a7f6ca36c 100644
--- a/src/cryptonote_core/cryptonote_core.cpp
+++ b/src/cryptonote_core/cryptonote_core.cpp
@@ -48,10 +48,6 @@ using namespace epee;
 #include "cryptonote_basic/checkpoints.h"
 #include "ringct/rctTypes.h"
 #include "blockchain_db/blockchain_db.h"
-#include "blockchain_db/lmdb/db_lmdb.h"
-#if defined(BERKELEY_DB)
-#include "blockchain_db/berkeleydb/db_bdb.h"
-#endif
 #include "ringct/rctSigs.h"
 
 #undef MONERO_DEFAULT_LOG_CATEGORY
@@ -314,20 +310,8 @@ namespace cryptonote
     // folder might not be a directory, etc, etc
     catch (...) { }
 
-    BlockchainDB* db = nullptr;
-    uint64_t DBS_FAST_MODE = 0;
-    uint64_t DBS_FASTEST_MODE = 0;
-    uint64_t DBS_SAFE_MODE = 0;
-    uint64_t DBS_SALVAGE = 0;
-    if (db_type == "lmdb")
-    {
-      db = new BlockchainLMDB();
-      DBS_SAFE_MODE = MDB_NORDAHEAD;
-      DBS_FAST_MODE = MDB_NORDAHEAD | MDB_NOSYNC;
-      DBS_FASTEST_MODE = MDB_NORDAHEAD | MDB_NOSYNC | MDB_WRITEMAP | MDB_MAPASYNC;
-      DBS_SALVAGE = MDB_PREVSNAPSHOT;
-    }
-    else
+    BlockchainDB* db = new_db(db_type);
+    if (db == NULL)
     {
       LOG_ERROR("Attempted to use non-existent database type");
       return false;
@@ -353,7 +337,7 @@ namespace cryptonote
         MDEBUG("option: " << option);
 
       // default to fast:async:1
-      uint64_t DEFAULT_FLAGS = DBS_FAST_MODE;
+      uint64_t DEFAULT_FLAGS = DBF_FAST;
 
       if(options.size() == 0)
       {
@@ -367,14 +351,14 @@ namespace cryptonote
         if(options[0] == "safe")
         {
           safemode = true;
-          db_flags = DBS_SAFE_MODE;
+          db_flags = DBF_SAFE;
           sync_mode = db_nosync;
         }
         else if(options[0] == "fast")
-          db_flags = DBS_FAST_MODE;
+          db_flags = DBF_FAST;
         else if(options[0] == "fastest")
         {
-          db_flags = DBS_FASTEST_MODE;
+          db_flags = DBF_FASTEST;
           blocks_per_sync = 1000; // default to fastest:async:1000
         }
         else
@@ -398,7 +382,7 @@ namespace cryptonote
       }
 
       if (db_salvage)
-        db_flags |= DBS_SALVAGE;
+        db_flags |= DBF_SALVAGE;
 
       db->open(filename, db_flags);
       if(!db->m_open)
diff --git a/src/daemon/main.cpp b/src/daemon/main.cpp
index 19dd02171..456eeee64 100644
--- a/src/daemon/main.cpp
+++ b/src/daemon/main.cpp
@@ -145,13 +145,10 @@ int main(int argc, char const * argv[])
     std::string db_type = command_line::get_arg(vm, command_line::arg_db_type);
 
     // verify that blockchaindb type is valid
-    if(cryptonote::blockchain_db_types.count(db_type) == 0)
+    if(!cryptonote::blockchain_valid_db_type(db_type))
     {
-      std::cout << "Invalid database type (" << db_type << "), available types are:" << std::endl;
-      for (const auto& type : cryptonote::blockchain_db_types)
-      {
-        std::cout << "\t" << type << std::endl;
-      }
+      std::cout << "Invalid database type (" << db_type << "), available types are: " <<
+        cryptonote::blockchain_db_types(", ") << std::endl;
       return 0;
     }
 
diff --git a/src/debug_utilities/CMakeLists.txt b/src/debug_utilities/CMakeLists.txt
index 99198dc57..e6d49fd61 100644
--- a/src/debug_utilities/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/src/debug_utilities/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -37,6 +37,7 @@ monero_add_executable(cn_deserialize
 target_link_libraries(cn_deserialize
   LINK_PRIVATE
     cryptonote_core
+    common
     blockchain_db
     p2p
     epee
diff --git a/tests/core_proxy/CMakeLists.txt b/tests/core_proxy/CMakeLists.txt
index d22fecc9c..680e34911 100644
--- a/tests/core_proxy/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/tests/core_proxy/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -39,6 +39,8 @@ target_link_libraries(core_proxy
   PRIVATE
     cryptonote_core
     cryptonote_protocol
+    common
+    blockchain_db
     p2p
     epee
     ${CMAKE_THREAD_LIBS_INIT}
diff --git a/tests/fuzz/CMakeLists.txt b/tests/fuzz/CMakeLists.txt
index 853d46a12..cb77f8f56 100644
--- a/tests/fuzz/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/tests/fuzz/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -30,6 +30,8 @@ add_executable(block_fuzz_tests block.cpp fuzzer.cpp)
 target_link_libraries(block_fuzz_tests
   PRIVATE
     cryptonote_core
+    common
+    blockchain_db
     p2p
     epee
     ${CMAKE_THREAD_LIBS_INIT}
@@ -42,6 +44,8 @@ add_executable(transaction_fuzz_tests transaction.cpp fuzzer.cpp)
 target_link_libraries(transaction_fuzz_tests
   PRIVATE
     cryptonote_core
+    common
+    blockchain_db
     p2p
     epee
     ${CMAKE_THREAD_LIBS_INIT}
@@ -55,6 +59,8 @@ target_link_libraries(signature_fuzz_tests
   PRIVATE
     wallet
     cryptonote_core
+    common
+    blockchain_db
     p2p
     epee
     ${CMAKE_THREAD_LIBS_INIT}
@@ -68,6 +74,8 @@ target_link_libraries(cold-outputs_fuzz_tests
   PRIVATE
     wallet
     cryptonote_core
+    common
+    blockchain_db
     p2p
     epee
     ${CMAKE_THREAD_LIBS_INIT}
@@ -81,6 +89,8 @@ target_link_libraries(cold-transaction_fuzz_tests
   PRIVATE
     wallet
     cryptonote_core
+    common
+    blockchain_db
     p2p
     epee
     ${CMAKE_THREAD_LIBS_INIT}
diff --git a/tests/unit_tests/hardfork.cpp b/tests/unit_tests/hardfork.cpp
index febf8b2f7..598b3b7b2 100644
--- a/tests/unit_tests/hardfork.cpp
+++ b/tests/unit_tests/hardfork.cpp
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@
 #include <algorithm>
 #include "gtest/gtest.h"
 
-#include "blockchain_db/lmdb/db_lmdb.h"
+#include "blockchain_db/blockchain_db.h"
 #include "cryptonote_basic/cryptonote_format_utils.h"
 #include "cryptonote_basic/hardfork.h"